TORONTO – Mexican sides play with an annoying-but-deserved air of superiority in this competition. Their record against MLS sides in Champions League play has been near-perfect since 2015.

Ahead of Wednesday night’s Champions League quarterfinal at BMO Field, Mexican teams have claimed each of the past seven series that have pitted MLS against Liga MX.

They’ve won those series with an enormous, if not baffling, plus-16 goal-difference.

Mexican sides haven’t just been dominant in this competition, they’ve been almost invincible, claiming all nine titles during the modern era of the tournament – an irrefutable statement of superiority that has perturbed MLS brass and supporters for close to a decade.

Toronto FC and Santos Laguna during a bench-clearing brawl back in 2012. (Toronto Sun)

Tigres arrived in Toronto on Monday ready to do what Mexican sides have done for as long as anyone can remember: Bully TFC in yet another anticipated inter-league matchup.

They’re here as an annual reminder of the unending gap in league-to-league quality, the gap in payroll, the gap in accolades and expectation.

But whether that continues appears to be more in question than ever before after Toronto FC, the undisputed best side in MLS history, made getting to this point a priority.

Toronto FC head coach Greg Vanney. (Ernest Doroszu/Toronto Sun)

“Is it a defining moment? I don’t know,” TFC coach Greg Vanney told reporters a day before the Reds open this two-leg quarterfinal. “They’re the next team in our way.”

Expect Tigres to ask even more questions of a Toronto FC side that’s searching for answers following last Saturday’s season-opening defeat to visiting Columbus.

While Vanney said the disappointing defeat provided him necessary “clarity” ahead of Wednesday night’s mammoth test, an air of uncertainty emanated from everyone else inside the stadium last weekend.

The Reds can hardly afford to be out-of-form ahead of this club-defining series.

“It’s an important test for us,” Vanney added. “I think we worked hard and did a lot of things last year and have earned the right to be in this tournament, which was one of our objectives. Now (the objective) is to try and win this tournament.”

Enner Valencia (C) of Mexico’s Tigres celebrates after scoring against Costa Rican Club Sport Herediano during the Concacaf Champions League football match at the Universitario stadium. (AFP)

Expect Vanney to alter his approach after watching his side struggle to move the ball on the subpar BMO Field surface this past weekend.

They’ll be far more comfortable playing a field position game in which chances are created off turnovers rather than the methodical buildups TFC fans became accustomed to during last year’s record season.

The near-freezing, rainy-snowy and windy conditions won’t lend themselves to any other style of play.

“It’s going to come down to not a whole lot of chances,” Vanney said prophetically. “It’s going to come down to really being efficient in order to finish things off.”

It’s also going to come down to containing some of the best players in the Americas.

Ex-Premier League striker Enner Valencia, 28, has been extremely productive in his short time at Estadio Universitario. Chilean No. 9 Eduardo Vargas, 28, is a World Cup-calibre striker who has played in each of the top four European leagues.

Frenchman Andre-Pierre Gignac, 32, has been unstoppable since arriving from Marseille three years ago.

Andre Pierre Gignac of Tigres reacts during the 5th round match between Pumas UNAM and Tigres UANL as part of the Torneo Clausura 2018 Liga MX at Olimpico Universitario Stadium. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

“He’s a very, very good striker in the box in terms of finding space, getting open, getting things on goal, clever about different types of finishes,” Vanney said of Gignac. “You deal with him the way you deal with all good players: You have to be aware of him.”

Limiting the aforementioned trio’s touches will prove paramount. Perhaps Vanney gleaned something from how the Crew approached Saturday’s league fixture.

It’s going to be cold and rainy. The pitch will be worse than it has been in years – the perfect recipe to turn Wednesday’s contest into controlled chaos in the same way both Columbus and New York did during last year’s MLS playoffs.

“We know we have to play well and execute in key moments,” Vanney said. “When you get two good teams playing each other it comes down to (finishing) your chances and (protecting) your goal well.

“Those are key things we need to take care of in this match.”

Do that and the Red give themselves a chance to advance beyond next week’s return leg in Monterrey.

Larson’s column in Wednesday’s Toronto Sun.

REDS DID THEIR HOMEWORK

The Reds believe spending a portion of pre-season in Mexico could pay dividends in their Champions League quarterfinal meeting with Tigres.

Toronto FC’s final pre-season fixture with Club America provided the Reds at least a taste of what they could face in Wednesday night’s opening leg at BMO Field.

“I think it was valuable for our group to play a Mexican league opponent,” coach Greg Vanney told reporters. “We got a good sense of what (Club America’s) priorities are when they play, which isn’t miles away from how Tigres sees the game.”

Asked if he thinks a first-leg lead is required before the Reds head to Monterrey for the return Tuesday night, Vanney said he’s confident his side can get a result anywhere.

“I don’t think it’s the end all, be all,” Vanney said. “The whole point of any of these first legs is to try and set yourself up in the best possible way.

“I think our team is capable of getting a result anywhere on its day. It comes down to executing. We tend to be pretty good at creating chances. We’ve been stingy in the past, defensively.

“So, we have to continue to do that. When two top-level teams play it becomes about who takes their chances when the opportunities arise.”

The Reds fell 6-3 to Club America in their final pre-season tune-up prior to knocking off Colorado in the Champions League Round of 16.

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